Tap water for TTM tank?

CarrieB · 07/29/2016, 06:46 AM

I have well water which I think is reasonably good (32 TDS). I'm thinking that it would be okay to use this for filling my TTM tanks, as it is going to get tossed in three days. Thoughts?

Just hate to waste the RODI water.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Shawn O · 07/29/2016, 07:31 AM

You need to know what else is in the water like lead, copper, etc. Being a well there could be any number of substances in it that could build up in a fish and harm it. City water has chlorine and often chloramines, as my city does. Both chlorine and small amounts of ammonia are added to the water one at a time which react together to form chloramine (also called combined chlorine), a long lasting disinfectant. Chlorine and chloramines aren't the only things in tap water that can hurt the fish so it's best to know ahead of time.
Good luck. Let us know how you made out.

AlSimmons · 07/29/2016, 08:52 AM

I think you'll be ok. Just treat the water with a little Amquel or something similar and observe the fish carefully for any signs of distress.

fishchef · 07/29/2016, 09:14 AM

Well water will eat through your DI Resin...something to do with CO2. Do a search in RC and you should find a valve configuration that will explain the set-up or e-mail BRS for info.

phc567 · 07/29/2016, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlSimmons

I think you'll be ok. Just treat the water with a little Amquel or something similar and observe the fish carefully for any signs of distress.

No no no. Add copper to amquel or prime and you have toxic soup. Big no no. Newbie mistake. Super dead fish.

AlSimmons · 07/29/2016, 09:32 AM

Why would you be adding copper? I add Amquel to my tap water all the time and have never had any problems. Are you just assuming the tap water has copper in it? I'm confused...

Sk8r · 07/29/2016, 09:39 AM

Tap water is ok for an emergency or for qt or TTM, granted it's good wellwater or city water: it's the use of it in the dt that causes problems, and the buildup due to evaporation over a year or so that causes really big problems.

Sapelo · 07/29/2016, 09:46 AM

I guess my feeling is: why risk it? I invest in a fish to have it long term. I then go to the extra effort of TTM and then QT and usually two rounds of Prazi. If I'm going to make all of that effort, why wouldn't I also use a few extra gallons of ro/di water?
And if, as I think phc567 was suggesting, I am unlucky enough to need to treat with something (like copper), I do not have to worry quite so much about anything that might be in my water to react with my treatment.
Sure, well water eats through resin, but ro/di filters are by far one of the cheaper aspects of this hobby.
To me it just makes good sense to use the best water I have available all of the time.

CarrieB · 07/29/2016, 10:54 AM

Just in case you are curious, I'm making RO DI to fill my new 120 this weekend, which is a lot of water. That's why I was thinking about taking a shortcut for the TTM tank.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

jayball · 07/29/2016, 01:15 PM

Nothing can build up if it is a tank used for TTM. I would not hesitate to use it straight personally. Seeing as how it is well you do not even need to wory about chlorine, sound like a win to me.

CarrieB · 07/29/2016, 11:53 PM

Well I chickened out in the end. I found that I was worrying enough about the new tank as it was, and sticking to the tried and true process was just easier.

I'll try it later when I can handle making the decision.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

OrQidz · 07/30/2016, 12:16 AM

Would it work to use the waste water from the RODI for the TTM? If it's gone through the carbon and sediment filters I wonder if that would be ok. But go with what works for you!

07/29/2016, 06:46 AM	#1
CarrieB Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 526	Tap water for TTM tank? I have well water which I think is reasonably good (32 TDS). I'm thinking that it would be okay to use this for filling my TTM tanks, as it is going to get tossed in three days. Thoughts? Just hate to waste the RODI water. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

07/29/2016, 07:31 AM	#2
Shawn O Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: People's Communist Republic of Massachusetts Posts: 1,474	You need to know what else is in the water like lead, copper, etc. Being a well there could be any number of substances in it that could build up in a fish and harm it. City water has chlorine and often chloramines, as my city does. Both chlorine and small amounts of ammonia are added to the water one at a time which react together to form chloramine (also called combined chlorine), a long lasting disinfectant. Chlorine and chloramines aren't the only things in tap water that can hurt the fish so it's best to know ahead of time. Good luck. Let us know how you made out. __________________ "55gal glass box full of water, rocks and some not-so-amused little fishes" 2x Occellaris, 1 Pajama, 1 Neon Dottyback. Current Tank Info: 55gal tank, sumpless, ReefOctopus Classic 90, Twin bulb T5.

07/29/2016, 09:39 AM	#7
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Tap water is ok for an emergency or for qt or TTM, granted it's good wellwater or city water: it's the use of it in the dt that causes problems, and the buildup due to evaporation over a year or so that causes really big problems. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

07/29/2016, 09:46 AM	#8
Sapelo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: North Georgia Posts: 869	I guess my feeling is: why risk it? I invest in a fish to have it long term. I then go to the extra effort of TTM and then QT and usually two rounds of Prazi. If I'm going to make all of that effort, why wouldn't I also use a few extra gallons of ro/di water? And if, as I think phc567 was suggesting, I am unlucky enough to need to treat with something (like copper), I do not have to worry quite so much about anything that might be in my water to react with my treatment. Sure, well water eats through resin, but ro/di filters are by far one of the cheaper aspects of this hobby. To me it just makes good sense to use the best water I have available all of the time. __________________ "When the last individual of a race of living beings breathes no more, another heaven and another earth must pass before such a one can be again." William Beebe Current Tank Info: 300 gallon DD, sps, Radion G3 Pros, etc. Too many fish and not enough coral...

07/29/2016, 08:52 AM	#3
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	I think you'll be ok. Just treat the water with a little Amquel or something similar and observe the fish carefully for any signs of distress.

07/29/2016, 09:14 AM	#4
fishchef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,222	Well water will eat through your DI Resin...something to do with CO2. Do a search in RC and you should find a valve configuration that will explain the set-up or e-mail BRS for info.

07/29/2016, 09:32 AM	#6
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	Why would you be adding copper? I add Amquel to my tap water all the time and have never had any problems. Are you just assuming the tap water has copper in it? I'm confused...

07/29/2016, 10:54 AM	#9
CarrieB Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 526	Just in case you are curious, I'm making RO DI to fill my new 120 this weekend, which is a lot of water. That's why I was thinking about taking a shortcut for the TTM tank. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

07/29/2016, 01:15 PM	#10
jayball Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,671	Nothing can build up if it is a tank used for TTM. I would not hesitate to use it straight personally. Seeing as how it is well you do not even need to wory about chlorine, sound like a win to me.

07/29/2016, 11:53 PM	#11
CarrieB Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 526	Well I chickened out in the end. I found that I was worrying enough about the new tank as it was, and sticking to the tried and true process was just easier. I'll try it later when I can handle making the decision. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

07/30/2016, 12:16 AM	#12
OrQidz Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 825	Would it work to use the waste water from the RODI for the TTM? If it's gone through the carbon and sediment filters I wonder if that would be ok. But go with what works for you!